New Jersey School Bus CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the New Jersey School Bus CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Try to answer each question on your own before reading the answer key directly under it. The questions and answer choices are shuffled deterministically per state and endorsement, so the order will stay the same on repeat visits — that lets you genuinely measure your improvement.
- A All of the above
- B Lights and reflectors, including alternating red lights and stop arm
- C Mirrors and adjustment
- D Emergency exits and warning devices
- A Speed past
- B Skip the stop if running late
- C Be at a low speed and prepared to stop, watching for waiting students
- D Honk to scare them
- A All of the above
- B Children playing or chasing balls near the bus stop
- C Children running across the street
- D Children riding bicycles near the stop
- A Standees are allowed
- B Same safety rules apply as the regular route
- C Looser rules apply
- D Seat belts are optional
- A Traffic in both directions usually must stop, depending on the road configuration and state law
- B Traffic may pass
- C No traffic rules apply
- D Only oncoming traffic must stop
- A Inspect heater and defroster operation, tires, and lights for snow and ice
- B Use only the parking brake
- C Skip pre-trip in cold weather
- D Allow students to dress lightly
- A Go behind the bus
- B Walk in front of the bus to cross only after a driver signal and at least 10 feet from the bus
- C Cross diagonally
- D Walk to the curb, then to the home
- A Drive on the shoulder
- B Pull away as the door closes
- C Honk and drive
- D Wait until students have moved at least 10 feet from the bus and then check mirrors before pulling away
- A Refuse service
- B Use the lift or ramp per training and secure the mobility device
- C Charge a fee
- D Allow boarding without securement
- A Skip the lights
- B Use interior dome lights and ensure exterior lights and stop arm are visible
- C Use only the four-ways
- D Have students load without lights
- A Care for injured students, contact emergency services, and notify the school
- B Continue the route
- C Move the bus immediately
- D Leave students unattended
- A Have students guide you
- B Avoid backing whenever possible; use a spotter when you must back
- C Use only mirrors
- D Back at the same speed as forward
- A Maintain normal speed
- B Reduce speed to school zone limits and watch for children
- C Honk to clear the area
- D Use only four-ways
- A Stopping the bus to argue
- B Setting clear rules, addressing minor issues quickly, and reporting major issues to the school
- C Driving faster to end the trip
- D Ignoring problems
- A Improperly stored hazardous items
- B More students than the seating capacity
- C Loose objects that could become projectiles
- D All of the above
- A Wait for the fire department
- B Use only the rear door
- C Use the door away from the fire and lead students to a safe distance away from the bus
- D Open all windows first
- A All of the above
- B Strike pedestrians
- C Hit objects on the side opposite the turn
- D Damage the bus
- A Only when a train is visible
- B Only at night
- C Within 5 feet of the rail
- D Between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail
- A On the highway during the trip
- B At fueling stops
- C During loading and unloading near the bus
- D In the bus garage
- A Refueling
- B Walking the bus to check for sleeping or hidden children, items left behind, and damage
- C Cleaning windows
- D Disconnecting the battery
- A Shift gears
- B Honk
- C Roll up windows
- D Open the door, turn off the radio and noisy fans, look and listen
- A Loose parts
- B Damage that could endanger students
- C All of the above
- D Cracks in mirrors
- A Take charge calmly and direct students step by step
- B Leave the bus first
- C Allow students to take charge
- D Wait for instructions only
- A Stop and tell the driver before retrieving the item
- B Leave it
- C Pick it up quickly
- D Run to the next stop
- A Pre-trip inspection completed
- B Crossing arms, stop signal arms, and red flashing lights
- C Functional emergency exits
- D All of the above
Study tips for the New Jersey School Bus exam
The School Bus portion of the New Jersey CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the School Bus chapter of the New Jersey CDL handbook, which itself is derived from the FMCSA Model Commercial Driver's License Manual. That means studying our practice tests, reading the corresponding handbook chapter, and re-reading the parts you got wrong is genuinely the most efficient route to a first-time pass.
Most successful applicants follow a simple cycle: take the practice test cold, write down every question you missed, open the matching chapter of the official New Jersey handbook, re-read the section that contains the right answer, then re-take the practice test 24 to 48 hours later. The 24-hour delay matters — sleep is when your brain commits new information to long-term memory, and CDL knowledge questions reward that kind of consolidated learning rather than cramming.
Pay particular attention to questions that include qualifier words like always, never, only, primary, or most. CDL test writers love to flip the right answer with a single qualifier. When two answer choices look almost identical, pay attention to the verb (is it must, should, or may?) and to any numbers (14 days, 100 air miles, 8 hours, 70/8 split). On endorsement tests in particular, watch for trick framing where a true statement about a different endorsement is offered as the "correct" answer to a question that is actually about School Bus.
Test-day logistics matter too. Bring photo ID, your Social Security card or birth certificate, your medical examiner's certificate (DOT card), and proof of state residency if you haven't already submitted those documents. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission will not let you sit for the knowledge exam without your documentation, and most offices charge an additional fee for re-attempts. Arrive early — the wait at most CDL testing offices runs 30 to 60 minutes — and silence your phone before the exam begins.
Finally, keep your General Knowledge fundamentals sharp even when you're focused on the School Bus exam. Many states administer multiple knowledge tests in a single sitting, and questions on weight definitions (GVWR, GCWR, GAWR), stopping distance, and the pre-trip inspection routine show up across endorsements. If you're unsure on the basics, sit a fresh New Jersey General Knowledge practice test before scheduling the real exam.
Next steps
Missed more than four questions? Re-read the School Bus study guide and the matching chapter in the official New Jersey CDL handbook. Then come back and re-take the test. Once you can score 22 of 25 or higher on three runs in a row, you're in good shape to schedule the real exam at your local New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: NJ General Knowledge · NJ Air Brakes · NJ Combination Vehicles · NJ Hazardous Materials · NJ Passenger · NJ Tank Vehicle · NJ Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in New Jersey? Read How to apply for a CDL in New Jersey for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.